TONGA were left to reflect on what might have been after going down to a narrow 27-20 defeat to Wales.

TONGA were left to reflect on what might have been after going down to a narrow 27-20 defeat to Wales.

The general consensus from within the Tongan camp was that it had been a missed opportunity to claim a first win over the Welsh in seven attempts.

Coach Jim Love said it was his team's error count that ultimately proved their undoing, while also pointing out the problems caused by their lack of preparation time.

"We made far too many mistakes," he admitted.

"I believe we had the game, but we just didn't put away the chances. Just a lot of little mistakes let us down.

"We came in with a lot of young players that were brought into the side and given the opportunity and that took a toll through mistakes.

"People have to understand that we are on a nil budget. Most teams get together for a World Cup for about six months.

"We have basically three weeks together. In the professional world, that's just not enough time to be competitive on the world stage."

However Love felt there had been a big improvement from Tonga's display in their first Pool D match last Wednesday, when they were beaten 36-12 by Italy.

"I believe if we had played the way we did in this match against Italy that we could have taken them much closer and even won," he said.

"Our dream of reaching the quarter-finals has gone now, but right from the start it has always been about credibility for Tongan rugby and I think we gained a lot of credibility with this display.

"We can go into the New Zealand game and a lot of confidence that we can perform well against one of the best teams in the world."

Tonga were without their captain Inoke Afeaki - laid out against Italy - yesterday and they were forced into a further late injury-enforced change, so late in fact that their team was only confirmed half an hour before kick-off.

It revealed a call-up at full-back for the impressive Sila Va'enuku, with Pierre Hola moving to fly-half in place of Sateki Tu'ipulotu, who dropped to the bench.

Hola also took over the kicking duties from Tu'ipulotu, something he's done with a fair degree of success in the past, having kicked 17 conversions out of 17 - as well as scoring a couple of tries - in a 44-point haul during a 119-0 World Cup qualifying win over Korea in March.

But on this occasion the Japanese-based player was out of sorts with the boot, being off-target with four shots at goal to mar what was otherwise a good try-scoring performance.

"I haven't done much kicking over the last two months," said Hola.

"I couldn't kick because I had a groin injury. The only practice I had was on Saturday. Unfortunately I missed a few kicks during the game.

"As a team we made a lot of mistakes and let Wales off the hook."

Nevertheless, stand-in skipper Benhur Kivalu said he was proud of the way his young pack performed.

"The Welsh pack was very experienced compared to ours, but I was very happy with our pack," said the No 8, who scored one of Tonga's three tries.

For the Polynesians, there is now only pride at stake in their remaining group games against New Zealand (next Friday) and Canada (Oct 29).

Having played Italy and Wales, how does Love see that one going? "Physically I believe that Italy are the more aggressive side, but I would say it would be 50/50."